Pet Stress, Safety and Halloween: How can you Help?
Every year at Halloween, we get a bunch of phone calls asking for our Calming chews.
That makes a lot of sense – because holidays practically define the term “environmental stress.”
Just think: The doorbell rings again and again, new faces grace your front step every three minutes, the noise is unbelievable, and there’s candy in the house???!!!?
That’s enough to drive any dog or cat insane – and that’s not even all that’s going on. There are plenty of safety concerns, too.
Use these six tips to help your pet have a safe and stress-free Halloween this year:
1. Keep indoor cats inside another room, far from the front door
Hook them up with fresh food and water and a quiet space that won’t have them making a beeline every time you greet new treaters.
If you’ve got outdoor cats, try to get them inside before the night previous to Halloween to help them avoid any mayhem.
2. Take your dog out for a raucous day in the park
On both Halloween day and the day previous, your dog will probably need a lot of exercise to wear him out and keep him calm during the witching hours.
3. Candy is not for cats – or dogs
Of course this is an obvious tip. But we should stress that keeping candy far out of reach during the lead up and during the evening of Halloween is a must. Even some healthy treats you give kids might not work so well for pups and kitties. So stick that bowl on a high, high, inaccessible shelf between doorbell rings.
4. Use costumes to your advantage
Thinking of taking your dog (who is, of course, calm around people and good on the leash) out trick or treating? Consider using costumes to your safety advantage.
Examples: A pumpkin in an orange reflective vest; a cyclist, also in a reflective vest; a crossing guard; a raver; a traffic cone… you get the idea.
Dressing pets safely will reduce stress for you – and consequently for them.
5. Pets + lit pumpkins = potential disaster
These two things don’t mix well. Pets are excitable and active – especially on a holiday. Don’t take the risk of having a tipped pumpkin create a fire, or of having the flickering and heat bother your pet. Instead, just keep the two things separate – or opt for LED lighting instead of traditional candles.
6. IDs, IDs, IDs
All year round, but especially on holidays, when pets are liable to scare and run easily (especially on holidays where people wear scary masks!), an ID tag is a necessary pet accessory. Get one before the big day to put your mind at ease and show your pet that he doesn’t need to be stressed, either!
Whatever you do to prevent stress this Halloween, you might find that a combination of different factors could still cause environmental stressors to bother your pet. If that’s the case, check out Calming chews to support normal disposition and relaxation.
Click here to learn more about Calming formulas – and have a happy Halloween!